Japanese homes, after just 20 or 30 years of use, are so often torn down and replaced by a modern monstrosity. Not that these are bad, but part of me wishes that there was a greater spirit of preservation in Japan. Not only is it a poor way of generating wealth and creating an affluent society, but all of the old charm is lost.

So when a renovation project comes along, my ears and eyes perk up. Enter miCo, an architecture firm comprised of Mizuki Imamura and Isao Shinohara, who just recently completed a renovation on a 30-year old home in Komazawa. From the outside the home, nestled in a residential neighborhood in the Western suburbs of Tokyo, doesn’t particularly stand out. But it’s the inside that shines.

Working with the existing 2-story structure, the architects cut the home in half and inserted a floor-to-ceiling inner courtyard. Next to it they built a new bedroom and study, creating 3 separate units, each with their own outdoor area and each connected by one continuous room. Color me green with real-estate envy!